shhNi. cV.) CfIRLSTIAII M(STidLtiÍ', VI7. JUSTICE, ácc. 41ß might make it appear, that unless a due exchange of be refits be maintained, and the practice of justice se-t, cored, none ofus could enjoy the safety, the ease, or the conveniences of life. Where there is no practice of justice amongst men, no man can live safe by his neighbour : Every one that is mightyand malicious, that is proud or covetous, that is envious or knavish, would rob another of his due, and either assume the possessions of his neighbour to him- self, or make havoc of them, and destroy them. There would be everlasting confusion amongst men, slander and theft, cheating and knavery; plunder and slaughter, and bloody violence would reign among all the tribes of mankind ; ifjustice were banished from the earth: for neither life, nor liberty, nor peace, or any of our pos- sessions, nor our good name, can be secured without it. Therefore the light and law of nature sets a sacred guard upon justice, and has written the necessityof it in the consciences of all men, who have not seared those consciences as with a red-hot iron, and rased out so much of human nature from their souls. The practice of justice has so extensive an influence into the whole conduct of our lives, and the welfare of mankind, that some of the heathen writers have made it to be comprehensive of all virtues. But because sinful men are ready to break the bonds of commutative justice, and invade the property, the peace, or the life of their neighbours, therefore govern- ment is appointed, and magistrates are ordained to maintain peace and equity amongst men, and to punish the breakers of it. This is the greatest reason why there must be such a thing as magistracy and distributive jus- tice amongst mankind; that those who commit outrage upon their neighbours, and practise injustice toward them, may be punished by the laws : For, as the apos- tle says to Timothy, the law is not made for the righte- ous, but for the disobedient, for the ungodly, and for sinners ; for murderers, stealers, and liars, &c. That it may be a strong restraint upon the violent inclinations of men, and bringjust vengeance upon them, when they bring injury upon their neighbours. Therefore it is for thewelfare of the innocent and the righteous, that the laws have ordained vengeance_for the guilty; that those
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=